Anelka seems to be heading for the Stamford Bridge exit door, with his contract due to expire in the summer. He has been linked with a big-money move to China - but it has also been claimed that he could remain in the Premier League.

Redknapp could well be in the market for a striker in January, with Roman Pavlyuchenko suffering a knee injury that in the words of the Spurs manager "doesn't look very good", and Anelka's name has cropped up.

The Tottenham boss has spoken in glowing terms about the 32-year-old Anelka, but insisted the Frenchman's name has not cropped up in conversations with chairman Daniel Levy.

"I have always liked him," Redknapp said of Anelka. "I think he is a fantastic goalscorer but he is not a player who I have made any enquiries about or mentioned to the chairman.

"Having said that, I wouldn't stand here and say, 'No. Never', because if I did sign him you would say, 'What a lying git'. It's not a bad shout. He's a good player."

A report in The Times suggests Anelka's Chelsea team-mate Didier Drogba is on Tottenham's wish list, with it being claimed they could put together a package provided they can secure his signature on a free transfer.